Alternative investments

The question everyone is asking, not just shell-shocked investors, but financial advisers and economists as well, is how low can the Dow Jones Industrial Average go? And the answer is, very, very low. Some pessimists are now predicting the Dow 900.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) will begin publishing aggregate market data on credit derivatives, starting Nov. 4.

American International Group Inc. (AIG) is rapidly depleting the $123 billion in loans it has received from the Federal Reserve, according to a report in the New York Times.

Adviser confidence in the economy and stock market sank this month for the second consecutive month, according to Rydex AdvisorBenchmarking Inc., a Rockville, Md., unit of Rydex Investments.

PIMCO has launched the Global Multi-Asset Fund, a mutual fund that will provide broad diversification across risk exposures and asset classes. Co-Chief Investment Officer Mohamed A. El-Erian will lead the team that runs the fund. Other key executives on the team include Vineer Bhansali, a managing director and head of the portfolio management analytics group, and Chris Mewbourne, a managing director and generalist portfolio manager.

While reports have surfaced in recent weeks of incredibly wide discounts on closed-end funds that signal undue risk, rather than buying opportunities, some financial advisers say that with a little homework, there are, actually, some wise buys to be had on closed-end funds, Dow Jones reports. Further, with most closed-end funds paying dividends, that is yet another strong case for considering such funds.

Few people know as much about mutual funds as Matthew P. Fink. For more than 40 years, Fink dedicated his career to serving the industry and its 88 million shareholders through his work for the Investment Company Institute, serving as its president from 1991 to 2004.

WASHINGTON - Despite signs of renewed strength in the credit markets, the Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday unveiled a new program to provide more liquidity to money market mutual funds.

JPMorgan Investor Services, PNC and Principal Financial take top honors in Money Management Executive's 2008 Fund Operations Awards. Now in its sixth year, the program honors industry leaders in three categories: Leadership, Innovation and Efficiencies/Streamlining.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Despite the recent daily thousand-point swings in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the understandable uncertainty among investors, Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) plans still remain American's dominant and trusted retirement vehicles.

NEW YORK — J.P. Morgan Investor Services, PNC and Principal Financial have been honored with first-place for Leadership, Innovation and Efficiencies/Streamlining, respectively, in Money Management Executive’s 2008 Fund Operations Awards.

With losses mounting—the average hedge fund is down 10% this year—hedge fund investors are increasingly looking to head for the exits, and hedge funds are putting up barriers, Dow Jones reports.

Ameriprise Financial is expanding its discretionary mutual fund wrap program through its new Active Diversified Portfolio series, by adding to its line-up of investment managers.

Morningstar Investment Services is offering three managed account services to provide investors with retirement income at three levels of risk and time ranges.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined Banorte Securities International $1.1 million for improper sales of B shares of offshore mutual funds, as well as inadequate supervisory systems to monitor the sales.

WASHINGTON - Though the Federal Reserve Board's reputation is built on its management of monetary policy, Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that the role of banking supervision at the central bank needs to be revisited.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - As omnibus accounts continue to grow in size and scope, it remains crucial for investment managers to keep oversight high and costs low.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Mutual fund industry leaders admit that years of deregulation allowed the current economic crisis to unfold, and many are anticipating a backlash of new and excessive regulations to result.

The mutual fund industry has a long tradition of innovation and creative problem solving in times of challenge. These past months have been sobering, and the uncertainty around the financial services sector is not yet waning.

As the mutual fund industry approaches the first anniversary of the compliance date for SEC Rule 22c-2, it's an ideal time for a retrospective on the services, systems and processes in place to comply with the data-sharing components of the rule.